"The Warriors have now lost two starting point guards this summer.

First Baron Davis opted out of his contract and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. Now, Monta Ellis, Davis' replacement, has been lost to injury for a minimum of three months.

Ellis, who signed a six-year, $66 million contract extension last month, had surgery Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his left ankle, the Warriors confirmed. He hurt his ankle working out in his hometown, Jackson, Miss.

The initial hope was that it was a high ankle sprain when Ellis, 22, informed the team late last week. But the diagnosis turned out more severe.

"This is obviously a temporary setback for our team, but fortunately it is not something that is season-ending," coach Don Nelson said. "On the positive side, we're dealing with a young kid who should recover nicely. I'm sure Monta will work hard during his rehabilitation and we'll utilize our roster during the first part of the season to try and make up for his loss."

According to a release put out by the Warriors this afternoon, Ellis sustained a Grade 3 high ankle sprain, a torn deltoid ligament and disruption of the ankle syndesmosis (ligaments above the ankle joint). The surgery was successfully performed this morning by Dr. Angus McBride of the Andrew Sports Medicine